Batteries are considered to be hazardous waste because of their toxic metal content, so must be disposed of in landfills designed for hazardous waste only.

The introduction of the Batteries Directive (2006/66/EC) into UK law, will undoubtedly increase the amount of waste batteries being collected. This in turn will increase the number of collection points in commercial and industrial premises, retailers or similar. With the correct use of suitable containers and a common sense approach, the risks of storing batteries can be minimised.

Requirements on collecting, treating and recycling waste batteries and accumulators, through the Waste Batteries and Accumulators Regulations 2009 came into force on 5 May 2009, and producers will have to pay for the collection, treatment and recycling of batteries from early 2010.

Who is a 'battery producer'?

• A battery manufacturer or a domestic importer is a producer, as they are the ones placing batteries on to the market for the first time.
• A retailer who sells batteries is a producer, as they are selling batteries to end-users which are going on to the market for the first time.

Any business that produces, supplies, or disposes of batteries and accumulators will be affected. This will apply to all batteries, regardless of their shape, weight, use or chemical composition.

There are several types of batteries and because they are each made from different chemicals and work in different ways, each type has a different recycling route. The most common types of batteries are:

• Wet-cell: Lead acid batteries used to power vehicles and by industry. 
• Dry-cell non-rechargeable: These are the most common types of household battery. 
• Dry-cell rechargeable: General purpose rechargeable batteries, also including nickel cadmium, nickel metal hydride and lithium ion batteries used in power tools, cordless appliances, mobile phones etc.

Recycling batteries

Batteries contain a range of metals that can be reused as a secondary raw material. There are well established methods for the recycling of most batteries containing lead, nickel cadmium, nickel hydride and mercury.

Below is a list of some companies in the south east that can collect batteries.

AA Waste
Woking Office
Tel: 01483 480004

Greener World
Langley
Slough
SL3 6ED
Tel: 01753 545544

Envirogreen
Slough
SL1 4DX
Tel: 0845 712 5398

Vinton Batteries
Erith
Kent
DA8 2AD
Tel: 01322 333858